Universal Remotes

[javacontour]

OK, the A/V system is getting complex. I'd like some universal remote recommendations. I want one that will control devices from 1988 (my receiver) to today (Hitachi TV and AT&T uVerse DVR box.) Suggestions? What are folks using that they like and why do they recommend it? What are the pros and cons observed as you live with your recommendation. Thanks in advance.

 

[Quattro Pete]

I've been generally happy with Logitech Harmony Remotes. I've got an older 880 downstairs and a newer 900 upstairs. The 900, in addition to standard IR communication also supports RF, which means you can control devices which are out of sight (inside cabinets, closets, behind solid doors, etc.). I use it to control my HTPC which is in another room. Logitech has a vast library of devices that their remotes can control. But even if you happen to have a device that's not on their list, if you have the original remote, your new universal remote can learn the commands of the old remote just by syncing up the two. If you're new to universal remotes, you may find the initial set up a bit tedious (setting up devices, activities, macros, etc.), but it's not too bad. Overall, I recommend getting a universal remote. It certainly helps eliminate the remote clutter.

 

[Carbuff]

We have a 5 year old Logitech Harmony 659 remote and I really like it. It works on everything in our Home Theater system, including my Panasonic HT amp from 1993, and up to our Sony Blu-Ray that we purchased last year. For most devices, you hook it up via USB to your computer and it downloads the commands. Then you can edit commands (or the order they appear on the display). For the HT amp, we had to "teach" each command to the remote individually. Took about 30 minutes for that device. Again, ours is old (it has a monochrome LCD display) but it is well laid out and is easy to use (even for the kids and spousal unit). The retail price on ours at the time of purchase was about $100 USD.

 

[4D-56]

Logitech harmony. good quality, easy to use/set-up, VAST library of devices.

 

[greenjp]

I have a Logitech Harmony 550. It may be the single best consumer electronic device I've ever gotten. It does exactly what it's supposed to do. Once I got it set up (which is quite easy and took 30 minutes) I put the old remotes away (TV, DirecTV, and reciever) and haven't touched them since. My wife uses it and I think my 2 year old is on the cusp of figuring it out. It also does the DVD functions for the Xbox perfectly so my wife doesn't have to use the Xbox controller to watch DVDs. The 550 is I think one step up from the basic model. It doesn't have the RF capability Pete mentioned, and it's little screen is just black and white. It also uses replaceable AAA batteries vs. the built in rechargable that some of the higher end ones have. I consider that a plus, not a minus. The build quality is outstanding. Paradoxically I think it's "nicer" than the 880 or 900 that a relative of mine has, just nicer buttons and whatnot. jeff

 

[dparm]

+1 for the Harmony remote.

 

[bepperb]

I think the cheapest Harmony is kinda junk, but every other one seems to be really good. We have one with a color screen, I'm not sure I'd pay that much again, but it is very nice and works well.

 

[scurvy]

Got a Logitech Harmony 800(?) at Costco this year. Very easy to use, fast, quick setup. Works just as well as the OEM remote.

 

[javacontour]

Thanks for the replies. I'm new to the current generation universal remotes. My Kenwood KVR-127 (I think) receiver has a programmable remote, but that's 1988 technology. But it will learn. It' has about 30 or so programmable keys. But I've long since used up all the stickers to indicate what the keys do. So something that has a lot of existing codes, and can learn if needed sounds like the ticket. I'm color blind, so the color screen on a remote is not really a selling feature

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: bepperb

I think the cheapest Harmony is kinda junk, but every other one seems to be really good. We have one with a color screen, I'm not sure I'd pay that much again, but it is very nice and works well.

I have the cheap 510. Still humming along after 4 years and you can of course keep updating it and customizing it for new devices. I could care less about a color screen and those things.

 

[Quattro Pete]

In addition to using a color screen, some of the higher end models use a touch screen. Personally, I don't care for it. I much prefer physical buttons... same goes for smartphones, but I'm just old school.

 

[MrHorspwer]

Another +1 for Harmony. I have a 680 and an 880. Both are great.

 

[greenjp]

The thing about the Harmony is that it's not about codes or remembering what the buttons do. You program it via a pretty straightfoward PC interface via USB. It asks you a bunch of questions (what equipment you have, model numbers, what inputs various things go into, etc) and it sets it up for you. It builds "activities" and creates the macros to do multiple things simultaneously. Most of the buttons are pre-labelled (volume, "guide", the numbers, directional pad, stop/pause/play, etc), the little screen is what will have custom stuff. So you click the "Watch TV" or "Play Xbox 360" buttons and it turns everything on, gets 'em all to the right settings, turns things you're not using off, etc. The key thing then is that the rest of the buttons on the remote also get mapped. So when you're watching TV, the "guide" button will bring up the channel guide. When playing Xbox, it brings up the Xbox guide. It's great. And if something gets screwed up, you press the "Help" button and it walks through the steps and fixes it. It's idiot proof. jeff

 

[MrHorspwer]

Originally Posted By: greenjp

It's idiot proof.

With the Harmony, my mother-in-law was able to sit down at our house and actually start watching TV on her own. This usually involves her sitting down, pressing every button on three remotes, hopelessly screwing up the inputs on the TV and receiver, then calling me while the wife and I are out, asking how to turn the TV on. It's mother-in-law proof.

 

[Vikas]

If you are buying any new equipment, make sure it has discrete power on and power off capability. If it has separate on and off buttons, you are all set. Otherwise it might still have hidden support for different on and off button. Harmony type of remotes get very confused if you turn your equipment on without using Harmony. This is not the fault of Harmony but rather the equipment; never the less it still confuses the mother-in-law :-) For example, I have an older Pioneer receiver. When I set up the Harmony, it did not know about discrete on/off for the receiver. So, now if somebody tries to turn on the receiver by hand and then uses Harmony, it will turn the receiver off and then send all the commands to it. This makes the user madder and then she starts pressing more buttons ... - Vikas

 

[greenjp]

Originally Posted By: Vikas

If you are buying any new equipment, make sure it has discrete power on and power off capability. If it has separate on and off buttons, you are all set. Otherwise it might still have hidden support for different on and off button...This makes the user madder and then she starts pressing more buttons ... - Vikas

This is the most common issue I encounter but the "Help" button really does work. It'll get a problem of this sort straightened out in no time. The biggest user issue I've seen with these things is when the person (usually my MIL, seeing a trend here ) holds the remote facing up to the ceiling so they can find the button they need, or read the screen, and press the button while it's facing up. Then some of the commands never get to the components. jeff

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: greenjp

The biggest user issue I've seen with these things is when the person (usually my MIL, seeing a trend here ) holds the remote facing up to the ceiling so they can find the button they need, or read the screen, and press the button while it's facing up. Then some of the commands never get to the components. jeff

Or they don't continue holding it pointed at the devices long enough after they pressed the activity button because they don't realize the remote is sending commands in a sequence that can take a little bit.

 

[javacontour]

Picked up the Harmony 650 today for $51.99 from Best Buy. It took about 15 minutes to program it to watch TV and a DVD. It probably wouldn't take much longer to program it to watch the VCR that we still have Thanks to all who responded.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Yeah, the basic activity setup is very straightforward. Now, if you want to tweak it afterwards so that the Harmony remote can mimic every single action of your old remote, that may be more time consuming, but for the most part it's not even needed.

 

[javacontour]

So far, I've found all the functions I need. We shall see after my wife and kids get their hands on it. I may need to chain it to the coffee table